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Cultural and Walking Highlights of China

This adventure combines some of the Orient’s main cultural sights with a walk
along some of the lesser-visited parts of the Great Wall. We travel from the
skyscrapers of Hong Kong to the imperial palaces of Beijing. Cruising along the Li
River we pass vast paddy fields and unusual limestone pinnacles. We fly to Xian where we discover the incredible Army of Terracotta Warriors and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. In Beijing we explore the famous Tiananmen Square and the maze of palaces and gardens of the Forbidden City. Starting from the ‘Old Dragon’s Head’ - where the Wall meets the sea - we walk towards Simatai. We spend several days
hiking along some of the most spectacular sections, stopping to take a boat ride across the lake at Panjiakou and visit the Eastern Qing Tombs.

Tour Highlights

Yangshuo - Float through dramatic karst scenery on the Li River

Xian - Meet the incredible 'Terracotta Army'

Beijing - Explore Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Old Dragons Head - Visit the spot where the Great Wall disappears in to the sea

Trek the Great Wall - Follow the wall along the far eastern sections at Jioashan to Panjiakou where the wall crosses a lake

Itinerary

1

Join tour Hong Kong

Arrive Hong Kong and check into hotel.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
None

2

In Hong Kong

Situated in a dramatic setting, Hong Kong is a lively, sophisticated city and the world’s third largest financial centre. We start with an orientation walk and leave the afternoon free for optional excursions. Public transport is efficient and easy to use. You can take a funicular railway to Victoria Peak or a launch out to a floating restaurant in Aberdeen Harbour. Alternatively explore the jade market or admire the latest sartorial and electronic fashions.

Overnight: Standard HotelSwimming Pool AvailableSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

3

In Hong Kong ; overnight train to Guilin

This morning will be left free to explore Hong Kong further. In the late afternoon we transfer by coach to the Sheng Shui train station close to the Chinese border. From Sheng Shui we then take a train to reach the pedestrian only border at Lu Wu. As we cross on foot and porters are not available please make sure you can comfortably carry your own luggage. After clearing immigration and customs we walk the short distance to nearby Shenzhen station from where we take an overnight train to Guilin.

Overnight: Basic Overnight Train

Included Meals:
Breakfast

4

Boat on Li River to Yangshuo

On arrival in Guilin we will make a quick stop at a local hotel for breakfast before we head to the Bamboo Reed Dock where we board our boat on the Li River and cruise to Yangshuo. Lunch is taken aboard the boat during the journey as we pass along the most scenic stretch of the river. We will pass paddy fields, villages and stunning limestone scenery en route. An afternoon arrival in Yangshuo offers the opportunity to explore this laid back town – a contrast to the bustle of Hong Kong. During this free time you may wish to take one of the optional bike rides or walks in the surrounding villages. Alternatively you could head to one of the many limestone pinnacles around the town, the best known being the Moon Hill.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch

5

In Yangshuo; fly Xian

Yangshuo has a lot to offer so most of the day is left free for you to explore at your own pace. You can walk into the surrounding karst summits or hire a bike and cycle through country back lanes. Alternatively, you can soak up the atmosphere of this beautiful riverside town. You may want to practice your bartering skills in the local market - here art students from Guilin sell their batiks, silk paintings, Tai Chi, cooking, calligraphy, mahjong, or you may be tempted to buy a 'Little Red Book'. Later on today we fly to Xian. Perhaps stopping at the Chinese Medical Research Centre en route to the airport.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

6

In Xian

Our stay in Xian reveals the extraordinary continuity of Chinese civilisation. Xian (Changan) served 11 dynasties and was the very starting point of the Silk Road between Central Asia and Europe. Its ancient monuments include, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda (64m, a 7-storey high structure with a superb overview of the city) and the Great Mosque, a wonderful 15th century working mosque within the old muslim Hui District, which we include in our sightseeing tour. The afternoon is free but highly recommended is an optional visit to the Shaanxi National Museum which takes us through a million years of Chinese history.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

7

Visit Terracotta Warriors; Overnight train to Beijing

Today we visit one of the highlights of any visit to China – the magnificent Terracotta Warriors and Horses who guard the Qin Shi Huangdi Tomb. There are literally thousands of lifesize warriors, dating from 200BC. This dramatic find of the 1970s is considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the century. We should have time to stop at the on-site factory to see how the warriors are made today. Later this afternoon we take an overnight train to Beijing.

Overnight: Basic Overnight Train

Included Meals:
Breakfast

8

Arrive Beijing, visit the Forbidden City.

Beijing is China’s capital and its political and cultural centre. The city has been the capital for most of the period since Kublai Khan made it the capital of his mighty Asian Empire in the late 1200s. All clocks in this vast country are set by Beijing time despite the westernmost regions being some 5000kms away. During our stay we shall visit the Forbidden City, the one-time home of the Ming and the Manchu (Qing) emperors and a treasure trove of eastern wares. There is the option to visit the Summer Palace an old and very extensive imperial garden complex with a large boating lake and impressive palace buildings. There is also the possibility of seeing a Beijing opera in the evening, or perhaps an acrobatic performance (optional). The opera in Beijing is considered to be the best in China.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

9

Visit Great Wall or Free Day

Today we drive out to a renovated part of the Great Wall at Mutianyu, situated 90km north of the city. Began in the 3rd century BC by Shi Huangdi, thousands of conscripted workers laboured on it and many lie buried in its brick and stone ramparts. It is incredible to think that this wall spans the entire country! Here there is a 2km section to walk along with watchtowers and views of the surrounding countryside. En route we may also get to visit a cloisonné workshop where you can see examples of this ancient metal-working technique. If you prefer to rest your legs before the trek begins today can be spend relaxing and exploring Beijing.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

10

Drive to Shanhaiguan

Leaving Beijing we drive to Shanhaiguan. It is here that the Great Wall reaches the Bohai Sea at a point called Laolongtou or the ‘Old Dragon’s Head’ – named after the legendary carved dragon’s head that once faced the ocean. The city was a garrison town with a large square fort (which still exists) with huge gateways facing the four compass points. The east gate is an impressive structure known as ‘First pass under Heaven’. It has these words inscribed at the top signifying the ancient Chinese perceived division of the world into ‘civilised China’ and the ‘barbarians’. This afternoon we head to Laolongtou, known as the Old Dragon's Head wher the Great Wall meets the sea. After this we then drive to the First Pass where we have our first opportunity to walk on the wall and visit the Great Wall Museum.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

11

Trek on Great Wall; drive to Panjiakou

Today we walk out of town along an old section of the wall to the impressive Jiaoshan Pass where it heads into the mountains for the first time. The fitter amongst the group may wish to continue up to a high point for spectacular views (weather permitting). This afternoon we take the scenic drive to Panjiakou where the wall crosses water.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

12

This morning we take a boat excursion on the reservoir at Panjiakou. The surrounding scenery is stunning – the wall following undulating ridges across the rugged hills before plummeting into the water at two points, Panjiakou and Xifengkou. Joining our vehicle again we head for Luowenyou where we are able to walk for approximately 10kms on a rugged and quite steep section of the wall with glorious views across the surrounding area. From Luowenyou we continue to our hotel in the grounds of the Eastern Qing Tombs near Zunhua.

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

13

Visit the Eastern Qing Tombs; trek on Great Wall to Huangyaguan

Making a reasonably early start this morning, we hope to have this lovely site to ourselves. The Eastern Qing Tombs are the largest and most complete of the Imperial Tombs in China with 5 emperors, 15 empresses and 136 concubines all buried here. In addition the surrounding mountains contain the tombs of hundreds of lesser nobles such as princes and dukes. We are able to enter a few of the beautifully carved tombs which mostly date back to the 17th and 18th Centuries. That of Emperor Qianlong covers almost
half a square kilometre. Leaving the tombs we drive to a point on the Great Wall where there is access, and walk for 2-3 hours into Huangyaguan. This section of the wall is very quiet and offers some great views – the first part of the walk is an ascent up to a prominent tower before descending down to another tower near the river. From here we cross the river and walk into the town and our hotel for the night.

Overnight: Simple HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

14

Drive from Huangyaguan to Gubeikou; walk along the wall to Jinshanling

Today we drive from Huangyaguan to Gubeikou. On arrival we walk through the small village of local farm houses, a great opportunity to see life in rural China up close. From here we will walk up on to the wall along a mountain path. This section of the wall takes us past 16 beacon towers and we get to see a part of the wall in the distance that is restricted and not usually seen. We leave the wall at Jinshanling and head to the hotel. (Approx 6 hours walking.)

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

15

Trek on Great Wall towards Simatai; return to Jinshanling

Today we aim to walk on one of the most stunning sections of the Wall between Jinshanling and Simatai – both locations where the wall has been refurbished. The walk between these two places is on partially ruined sections, with some quite steep ascents and many steps to be climbed. In 2010 Simitai was closed to the public, so we'll walk as far as we're allowed towards Simitai before returning to Jinshaling for a second night. We pass 18 watch-towers on this walk – these provide the only shade along the route and give us an excuse to pause and admire the breath-taking views. (approx 4-5 hours walking)

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

16

Drive to Beijing

Today we return to Beijing. We should arrive back into the city by early afternoon with late afternoon free for further personal exploration. You may wish to take an excursion to the Summer Palace or the Temple of Heaven in Tiantan Park (both optional).

Overnight: Standard HotelSingle Room Available

Included Meals:
Breakfast

17

Tour ends Beijing

Tour notes

Each departure date has it's own dedicated tour note, detailing all you need to know about that tour. Whether you've already booked, or weighing up your options, please choose carefully the relevant itinerary for you.

We have the following different versions of the China Highlights and Walk The Great Wall tour available at present.